Types of Rugs We Clean

We provide care and cleaning for EVERY type of rug.

Quite Simply, if it’s a rug, we can clean it. We specialize in area and oriental rugs in our state of the art facility. We are versed in a variety of cleaning methods, and prefer full submersion in a Turkish bath, however, not all rugs are suited for this method.

Expertise in rug identification is what makes us Oriental Rug Cleaning Experts. Proper identification is key to learning how the rug can be expected to react in the cleaning process; Will it bleed? Does it need to be dried flat? Can it be submersed, or does it require extraction? What materials are in its foundation, and is it prone to shrinkage? Are the wefts continuous, or was it cut off the loom? Is it tufted? Glued? Can it be rolled? Are the dyes stable? Is the pH off??? The list goes on and on, but what’s important is the cleaner knows what to expect before any cleaning begins.

We may not be able to use every process on every rug, but every rug has a method for cleaning. A list of some of the types and varieties of rugs we have worked with follows.

Wool Rugs

Cunningham’s Rug Cleaning cleans wool rugs and are the ONLY Certified Master Rug Cleaner with the highly acclaimed Woolsafe designation! There is a safe way to care for your wool carpets, and our wool cleaning methods have met the stringent requirements and testing of The WoolSafe Organisation and awarded the WoolSafe Certificate.

Established in 1991, the WoolSafe Certification Mark is widely recognized in many parts of the world as the standard for excellence and safety of carpet and rug care chemicals, both for professionals and consumers. It is used by many of the world’s largest cleaning chemical suppliers to identify and promote those carpet care products specifically suitable for use on wool.

Flokati

Handmade shag wool rugs commonly from Central, Eastern and Southeast Europe, Flokati rugs have a natural off-white color, but may be dyed different colors. The entire rug is wool, including the backing from which the tapered fluffy shag emerges. Handmade in the mountains of Greece these rugs are highly desirable in American modern decor and children’s rooms.

Sisal

Sisal rugs are woven from the stiff natural plant fibers of the Agave plant and produced in tropical areas. With signature tight fibers and a natural look, they posses a durability and resilience that many artificial materials can’t provide. Sisal rugs provide a modern look and are often used in a living room, bedroom, office, or hallway, because of their unique advantages and look.

Navajo Rugs

Rugs of the Diné People of the American Southwest are made primarily from the wool of the merino sheep. Colorful, geometric shapes distinguish these. Starting in the late 1930s, a number of different regional styles developed, including Crystal Revival, Chinle, Wide Ruins, Granado, Two Grey Hills and Burntwater. Newer Navajo rugs tend to be very symmetrical with even weaving and brighter colors, whereas rugs from the Revival Period (ca. 1930-1950) are more muted. It’s worth noting that antique Navajo rugs made prior to 1900 are thinner and more delicate, unsuitable for floor use.

Chinese Rugs

Classic Chinese rugs are quite distinctive from those made in other regions of Asia. Whereas there were hundreds of thousands of these rugs imported into the West between 1920 and the outbreak of the Second World War, after the revolution of 1949 that brought Mao Tse-Tung to power, the supply of these rugs decreased to virtually none. Classic antique Chinese rugs made after 1925 feature a heavy, thick pile, but the quality of these rugs can vary significantly. These may have either vegetable-based or chrome dyes, which tend to hold their color quite well with proper care.

Needlepoint Rugs

The needlepoint rug is entirely hand made and makes a wonderful decoration for the wall as well as the floor. The hand manufacture makes possible the most detailed and elaborate patterns. Don’t let delicate appearances fool you, however; these rugs are made to last, and are frequently made into heirlooms. If used on the floor, it is recommended that a good, thick pad be employed underneath as well as some type of anti-slip material.

Hand Hooked Rugs

This type of rug has grown in popularity in recent years, due to their durable manufacture and ease of care. Because of this, they are frequently employed in high-traffic areas of the home, including kitchens and family rooms. The hand hooked rug features a thin pile height and a stiff-looped construction. They are also versatile and available in many different styles, from Early American and Victorian to Oriental and Contemporary.

Karastan Rugs

Karastan is a U.S.-based rug manufacturer located in North Carolina, founded by the same family that continues to own and operate the company. These rugs are authentic reproductions of classic Oriental rugs that have been made in Iran (Persia), Turkestan and other countries of Southwest Asia for millenia. Although these rugs are machine-made, they compare quite favorably to handmade Oriental rugs – but can be obtained for far less and are more durable, featuring machine-weaving, dense pile and stain-resistance.

Kashmir Chainstitch

As the name suggests, this type of rug originates in the Kashmir region of northern India, Pakistan and southwestern China, a place renowned for its spectacular natural beauty. Known as jalakdozi in the local language, these rugs are made entirely by hand, employing a hook rather than a needle. Some of these rugs are made with expensive silk yarn. Chain-stitch rugs may feature geometric designs or colorful depictions of flowering plants and/or animals.

Lamontage Rugs

Lamontage rugs use acrylic fibers and polyester fibers which are intricately cut, blended and layered by hand, and then mechanically interlocked by needle-punching. Cut-outs and other dimensional designs in the material are typical styles. The process produces material of novel texture that resembles felt. Using a proprietary, high-tech manufacturing process, these rugs are made from synthetic fiber and are easy to clean and care for, yet are durable enough to stand up under heavy foot traffic. Lamontage rugs are suitable for indoor as well as outdoor use.

Wilton Rugs

Wilton carpets are machine woven rugs made in Wiltshire, U.K., where they have been manufactured since the 1700s. These carpets will last up to thirty years with proper care, and are therefore ideal for rooms that get heavy traffic. Wilton rugs come in a wide variety of designs and colors, and are equally at home in traditional as well as contemporary interiors. The most popular Wilton designs feature delicate leaf and floral patters around the border.

Persian Rugs

The Persians, ancestors of modern Iranians, (in fact, Iran was known as Persia until the 20th Century) pretty well wrote the book when it comes to classic oriental rugs. These rugs have been an integral part of Persian art and culture as far back as the time of Darius the Great. Even today, Persian carpets account for almost a third of all handwoven carpets produced in the world. Persian designs are frequently copied. Most Persian rugs are made from wool, but cotton is not unusual today. The most expensive Persian rugs are made from silk; however, due to the delicate nature and costliness of this material, silk Persian rugs are more often displayed as wall art. Persian rug design and manufacture also varies from one region of the country to another.

Tribal Rugs

Including: Bakhtiari, Baluchi, Turkoman, Shiraz, Afshar, Gabbeh

The term “tribal rug” refers to Oriental rugs manufactured in various regions of Southwest and Central Asia, primarily in post-Soviet states such as Tadjikistan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan as well as Afghanistan and Kurdistan. These are defined as rugs that are hand-made by nomadic peoples, based on folk motifs from hand-spun wool in a manner that has been maintained for centuries. These hand-made rugs have a lower knot count and invariably feature geometric design. The reason for employing geometric design is interesting. The people in this part of the world who follow the Islamic faith take the third Commandment (forbidding the creation of a “carved image or likeness of anything that is in heaven above or earth beneath”) quite seriously; therefore, traditional Muslim art does not depict plants, animals or nature scenes, finding creative expression in mathematical patterns instead.

Specialty Rugs

(Animal Hides)

Animal hides are the most ancient type of rug, going back to the Stone Age. They are found in virtually all pre-Industrial hunting-gathering societies. These naturally vary depending on the species available in a particular area; among North American natives, buffalo and bear were common. Bear hide rugs remain popular, however, rugs made from zebra hides and even those of domestic cattle, goat, sheep and rabbit are common as well. Rugs from endangered species, such as the Asian tiger, have fallen out of favor in recent decades. We help with care and cleaning of animal hide rugs and recommend that any stains should be treated immediately.

Machine Woven

Including: Wilton, Karastan, Hand tufted, Axminster, Chenille

These rugs, as the description suggests, are made by machine in factories and mass-produced. They include Wilton, Axeminster, Lamontage, Karastan, Chenille and others. Thanks largely to modern technology and manufacturing techniques, modern machine woven rugs have a softer feel and feature a pleasing array of designs, yet are more durable than many types of hand-woven rugs and easier to clean and care for. The primary advantage is cost; it is possible to get the look and feel of a hand-woven oriental rug for far less money. For those with young children and pets, a machine-woven rug is a popular choice.

Cities in our Service Area

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